Maybe you posted a comment on your favorite social media platform: you’re not feeling well, worried about getting sick, or tired of dealing with how a chronic condition weakens your immune system. Someone pipes up in the comments: “Try colloidal silver! You can even use it in a nebulizer!”.
Colloidal silver is a great way to support your immune system and more—but that may not answer all your questions! Read on and stop wondering what even is colloidal silver, and what does colloidal silver do?
What Is Colloidal Silver
It’s always a good idea to start with what is colloidal silver. Actually, it’s an especially good idea to start with what is colloidal silver, because there are some products marketed as colloidal silver, that aren’t really colloids, or pure silver!
A colloid is a liquid with particles suspended, and colloidal silver is water with nanosilver particles suspended. Ionic silver, sometimes labeled as colloidal silver, isn’t actually a colloid. Ionic particles dissolve (which you can tell because it creates a clear solution).
Good to know, but you may still be wondering: what does colloidal silver do?
Science: What Does (Colloidal) Silver Do?
Silver has antimicrobial properties, especially in its nano form. It was known in the past and has been pretty well researched in the present (by governments and other research facilities) that silver will kill most pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even some amoeba. What does colloidal silver do? It kills pathogens.
Historical Use: What Does Colloidal Silver Do?
Colloidal silver is nothing new, it’s actually been around for centuries. Hundreds of years ago, people answered “what does colloidal silver do” by using it to keep food fresh for a little longer, support their immune systems when they felt ill (by modern standards we would say they were using it for medicine), and generally prevent infection/disease.
And that “history” is actually pretty recent—modern antibiotics were discovered in the early 1940s, and up until that point colloidal silver was used for all sorts of things. One well-documented example of how colloidal silver was used (that even extended further into the present in areas without access to modern medicine) was preventing infection in newborn eyes; today we’ve replaced it with an antibiotic gel.
Modern Research: What Does Colloidal Silver Do?
Researchers have looked for ways to use silver’s germ-fighting abilities, and their efforts have led to different industries using silver nanoparticles. In daycares, silver nanoparticles may coat the toys, walls, floor, and more—it’s applied using a special technique and meant to slow the spread of germs. You may have bought socks, bags, or appliances that used nanosilver to slow bacteria and mold growth. You may have even encountered nanosilver at a hospital: some places especially integrate nanosilver into wall paint, curtains, and other often touched but seldom cleaned surfaces; or you may encounter nanosilver on a catheter, where it’s meant to slow germ growth for a better, safer patient experience.
You’ll even find silver (in a cheaper form) in products like creams, bandages, and more because it’s known to benefit the healing of small wounds.
What does colloidal silver do? It takes nanosilver and turns it into a safe supplement.
In the Body: What Does Colloidal Silver Do?
One subject of research looks closer at what does colloidal silver does in the body? Besides any possible benefits, it’s good to look at what’s happening. From what research has been done, silver particles will exit the body, through sweat and other ways, but mostly through urine. No harmful effects have been found through studies that have been done (even though some were explicitly looking for it).
Why Do People Take Colloidal Silver? What Does Colloidal Silver Do?
People take colloidal silver to support their immune systems—daily for ongoing support and prevention or as needed. Colloidal silver also has known benefits to support the skin as it heals—you can use it on a bandage or apply directly.
People who take colloidal silver as a supplement would answer “what does colloidal silver do” by giving you a list of other ways they think using it benefits them: in a neti pot (a little with their daily rinse), in a nebulizer, or swished and gargled before they swallow it. They find so much benefit from colloidal silver, they find multiple ways to use it—including for pets.
Experiment with what does colloidal silver does for yourself and try it as a daily supplement.
